Goodreads asked Patricia Loofbourrow:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Patricia Loofbourrow Write a lot. I feel that the "million words" advice is good. You need to find your confidence and perspective, and you need to learn how to write. It's hard to do either if you've only written one or two stories. I began writing novels in 2005 and I think I'm close to the two million word mark. I'd have to go back and check.

Find a team. You can't do this alone. You need readers you trust who will tell you the truth. You need to learn how to take critiques. You need a fan section. This takes time. Start participating in writing groups while you write your million words, making friends, finding who's good and who's not.

Don't try to publish a novel unless you feel ready, because it's a lot harder than it looks. You have to want this more than anything and have a story you believe in. That said, once you decide to do it, create a realistic deadline for your book and draw a line in the sand. Tell everyone you know. Doing that made me step up to the plate in a way I never thought I could.

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